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The Step-Mother

Colman, George (1732-1794)
  
THE STEP-MOTHER;
  
[note]
  
[dedication]
  
[castlist]
  
[section]
  
PROLOGUE.
  
ANOTHER PROLOGUE.

collapse section1. 
ACT I.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
collapse section2. 
ACT II.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
collapse section3. 
ACT III.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
 6. 
SCENE VI.
 7. 
SCENE VII.
 8. 
SCENE VIII.
 9. 
SCENE IX.
 10. 
SCENE X.
collapse section4. 
ACT IV.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
 6. 
SCENE VI.
 7. 
SCENE VII.
 8. 
SCENE VIII.
 9. 
SCENE IX.
collapse section5. 
ACT V.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.

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SCENE IV.

SOSTRATA, PAMPHILUS.
Sostra.
Dear son, I'm not to learn that you suppose,
Tho' you dissemble your suspicions to me,
483

That my ill-humour caus'd your wife's departure.
But by my trust in heaven, and hopes in you,
I never knowingly did any thing
To draw her hatred and disgust upon me.
I always thought you lov'd me, and to-day
You have confirm'd my faith: for even now
Your father has been telling me within,
How much you held me dearer than your love.
Now therefore, on my part, I am resolv'd
To equal you in all good offices;
That you may know your mother ne'er withholds
The just rewards of filial piety:
Finding it then both meet for your repose,
My Pamphilus, as well as my good name,
I have determin'd to retire directly
From hence into the country with your father;
So shall my presence be no obstacle,
Nor any cause remain, but that your wife
Return immediately.

Pam.
What thoughts are these?
Shall her perverseness drive you out of town?
It shall not be: nor will I draw, good mother,
That censure on me, that my obstinacy,
Not your good-nature was the cause.—Besides,
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That you should quit relations, friends, diversions,
On my account, I can't allow.

Sostra.
Alas,
Those things have no allurements for me now.
While I was young, and 'twas the season for them,
I had my share, and I am satisfied.
'Tis now my chief concern to make my age
Easy to all, that no one may regret
My lengthen'd life, nor languish for my death.
Here, altho' undeservedly, I see
My presence odious: I had best retire:
So shall I best cut off all discontent,
Absolve myself from this unjust suspicion,
And humour Them. Permit me then to shun
The common scandal thrown upon the sex.

Pam.
How fortunate in every thing but one,
Having so good a mother,—such a wife!

485

Sostra.
Patience, my Pamphilus! Is't possible
You can't endure one inconvenience in her?
If in all else, as I believe, you like her,
Dear son, be rul'd by me, and take her home!

Pam.
Wretch that I am!

Sostra.
And I am wretched too:
For this grieves me, my son, no less than you.

 

This idea of the long life of a Step-Mother being odious to her family is applied in a very beautiful and uncommon manner by Shakespeare.

Now, fair Hippolita, our nuptial hour
Draws on apace; four happy days bring in
Another moon: but, oh, methinks how slow
This old moon wanes! She lingers my desires,
Like to a Step-Dame, or a Dowager,
Long withering out a young man's revenue.
Midsummer Night's Dream.

Though Sostrata industriously endeavours to stifle her resentment, yet, in spite of herself, some little indignation, arising from a sense of the ill usage she has received, will mix in what she says; which the Poet has purposely thrown into her discourse, in order to paint the manners, and express character. Donatus.

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